Overview
- Reuters reported that Nobitex routed cryptocurrency tied to Iran’s central bank and the Revolutionary Guard in a parallel channel outside the formal banking system.
- Nobitex said it has no agreements with any government body and pointed to office raids, domain blocking, and bank gateway closures as signs of state pressure.
- Corporate records and interviews identified founders Ali and Mohammad Kharrazi, who used the alias Aghamir, as members of a powerful political family close to Iran’s ruling elite.
- Withdrawals surged after the February 28 strikes on Tehran, though TRM Labs cautioned that nationwide internet blackouts can exaggerate short-term spikes.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren called the reported flows a “flashing red light,” warning that gaps in anti-money-laundering and sanctions controls let adversaries move funds through crypto.